Jamie Condliffe

Verizon is being sued by a group of adult movie companies because it has refused to hand over personal details of alleged BitTorrent pirates.

Torrent Freak reports that Verizon is refusing to comply with court-ordered subpoenas—and the porn studios see it as more than simple customer protection. Instead, they believe that the provider is profiting from BitTorrent infringements. Verizon's counsel, however, claims:

"[The subpoena] seeks information that is protected from disclosure by third parties' rights of privacy and protections guaranteed by the first amendment."

As a result, adult movie makers—including Malibu Media and Third Degree Films—are turning on Verizon with increased fervor. They explain:

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"Verizon objects to the subpoenas on various grounds, all of which lack merit. Accordingly, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court overrule each of Verizon's objections, compel immediate compliance with Plaintiffs' subpoenas and hold Verizon in contempt for failing to obey the subpoenas."

However, it's not the first time Verizon—or for that mater other providers, such as AT&T and Comcast—have refused to hand over customer details. What's more, the likes of Verizon have some weighty legal muscle, so this could turn into a fight to the death. [Torrent Freak]